BSR publishes guideline on primary Sjögren's Syndrome

Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease, usually affecting women between 40 and 60 years of age, though can also occur in men. Common presenting symptoms include dry mouth and eyes, but it can be associated with joint pain and fatigue. Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) refers to the condition when it occurs on its own, without being associated with other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma.

Patients, if they seek assistance, usually present to primary care professionals, dentists, or ophthalmologists who often lack the specialist knowledge to treat pSS. Currently, there is no cure for pSS but the symptoms can be managed. The BSR guideline outlines pragmatic and practical advice for the management of adults with pSS, covering:

management of ocular manifestations of SS

management of oral manifestations of SS

treatment of oral candida

management of salivary gland enlargement

treatment of systemic disease.

The BSR has produced an executive summary summarising the key points and recommendations of the guideline.

The management of children and teenagers is not specifically covered by the guideline, and it is recommended—due to the rarity of SS in this patient group—that children and teenagers presenting with symptoms suggestive of SS are referred to a specialist centre.